Seventeen games in 18 days doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but the AFL insisted that Wednesday night's Western Bulldogs-St Kilda clash was always going to go ahead despite a freak storm that left Simonds Stadium looking more fitting for rowing than football.

The eighth game of the NAB Challenge game eventually began half an hour later than the forecast 7.10pm start, but a start of any sort seemed fanciful after 50 millimetres of rain fell inside an hour soon after 5pm. Quarters were reduced by three minutes to 17 minutes plus time-on.

The Geelong home rooms flooded, but thankfully weren't being used for the game, but the delayed start was a concession to water in the Bulldogs rooms that compromised their preparation.

NAB Challenge Game 8 with a Flood

The Bulldogs and The Saints had a nervous wait before the their NAB Challenge match when they arrived to a flooded Simonds Stadium. The game was delayed for 30 minutes while the water subsided. Photo: Social Media